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Coke Florida Names Leader for Community Focus

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Coke Florida Names Leader for Community Focus
News

News

Coke Florida Names Leader for Community Focus

2025-06-05 00:58 Last Updated At:01:11

TAMPA, Fla.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Jun 4, 2025--

Coca-Cola Beverages Florida, LLC (“Coke Florida”) announces the appointment of Shannon Smith to Senior Director, Community and Stakeholder Engagement.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250604710838/en/

Smith joined Coke Florida nearly ten years ago as Director of Sales for the Tampa market where she led sales execution activities across all retail channels. Shannon also played an instrumental role in developing and maintaining key relationships with customer partners such as the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Publix, and Walmart as well as with key community partners such as Habitat for Humanity and Boys and Girls Clubs of Tampa Bay.

Smith’s new role will include ensuring that Coke Florida’s community engagement is a catalyst for positive impact and shared value with the company’s customers and consumers.

“Coke Florida has an ongoing commitment to the communities where we live, work, and play. This commitment is met through our ability to partner with key stakeholders across these communities. Adding Shannon to the team allows us to strengthen our commitment and our engagement with these partners,” shared Percy L. Wells, II, Group Vice President for Government Affairs, Public Relations, and Communications at Coke Florida.

Shannon added, “I am honored to step into this new role. It will allow me to extend my reach across the entire Coke Florida footprint and the opportunity to increase the impact and contribution that Coke Florida has on our Florida communities.”

Shannon is graduate of Leadership Tampa Bay, Class of 2022 and serves on the board of Feeding Tampa Bay. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Accounting from Alcorn State University and a Master’s Degree in Business Administration from Belhaven University.

About Coca-Cola Beverages Florida, LLC

Coca-Cola Beverages Florida, LLC (Coke Florida) is the sixth largest Coca-Cola bottler in the United States. Coke Florida makes, sells, and distributes products of The Coca-Cola Company in an exclusive territory that covers over 21 million consumers across 47 counties in Florida. The company employs over 5,000 associates and operates four GreenCircle Certified manufacturing facilities and eighteen distribution centers. Founded in 2015 and headquartered in Tampa, Coke Florida is one of the largest Black-owned businesses in the United States. In 2025, Coke Florida was recognized as a US Best Managed Company Gold Standard Winner by Deloitte Private and The Wall Street Journal. To learn more, visit www.cokeflorida.com.

Shannon Smith, Senior Director Community and Stakeholder Engagement

Shannon Smith, Senior Director Community and Stakeholder Engagement

NEW YORK (AP) — Jalen Johnson had 18 points, 11 assists and 10 rebounds in his seventh triple-double of the season, leading the Atlanta Hawks to a 111-99 victory over the New York Knicks on Friday night.

Nickeil Alexander-Walker scored 23 points and Onyeka Okongwu had 22 for the Hawks, while both Zaccharie Risacher and Luke Kennard scored 12.

Jalen Brunson led the Knicks with 24 points. OG Anunoby had 19 points and 10 rebounds, and Mikal Bridges added 18 points.

Ariel Hukporti, who replaced Karl-Anthony Towns (illness) in the starting lineup, grabbed a career-high 17 rebounds for New York.

The Knicks got off to a quick start, taking an 11-2 lead. Trailing 30-29, the Hawks scored the final four points of the first quarter and never trailed again.

Atlanta extended its lead to 60-45 on Okongwu’s short jumper with 1:16 remaining in the second quarter before Brunson’s runner cut the Knicks’ deficit to 60-47 at halftime.

Alexander-Walker’s driving layup with 1:14 left in the third quarter gave the Hawks their biggest lead of the game at 94-68 and they were ahead 94-70 at the end of the quarter.

The Knicks scored the first 11 points of the fourth quarter and pulled within 94-81 before Kennard connected on back-to-back 3-pointers to end the streak.

New York mounted a final rally following consecutive 3-pointers by Bridges to edge within 108-99, but never got any closer.

The Hawks, who have won two in a row following a season-high, seven-game losing streak, became the first team to hold the Knicks to fewer than 100 points this season.

Atlanta's Trae Young (bruised right quadriceps) and Knicks center Mitchell Robinson (left ankle injury management) each missed their third straight games.

Hawks: Visit Toronto on Saturday.

Knicks: Host Philadelphia on Saturday.

AP NBA: https://apnews.com/NBA

Atlanta Hawks forward Onyeka Okongwu reacts after scoring a 3-point basket during first half of an NBA basketball game against the New York Knicks, Friday, Jan. 2, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Heather Khalifa)

Atlanta Hawks forward Onyeka Okongwu reacts after scoring a 3-point basket during first half of an NBA basketball game against the New York Knicks, Friday, Jan. 2, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Heather Khalifa)

Atlanta Hawks guard Dyson Daniels (5) passes the ball around New York Knicks center Ariel Hukporti (55) during second half of an NBA basketball game, Friday, Jan. 2, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Heather Khalifa)

Atlanta Hawks guard Dyson Daniels (5) passes the ball around New York Knicks center Ariel Hukporti (55) during second half of an NBA basketball game, Friday, Jan. 2, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Heather Khalifa)

New York Knicks guard Jalen Brunson, bottom, and Atlanta Hawks forward Onyeka Okongwu (17) battle for the ball during second half of an NBA basketball game, Friday, Jan. 2, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Heather Khalifa)

New York Knicks guard Jalen Brunson, bottom, and Atlanta Hawks forward Onyeka Okongwu (17) battle for the ball during second half of an NBA basketball game, Friday, Jan. 2, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Heather Khalifa)

Atlanta Hawks forward Jalen Johnson, right, is defended by New York Knicks forward Og Anunoby during second half of an NBA basketball game, Friday, Jan. 2, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Heather Khalifa)

Atlanta Hawks forward Jalen Johnson, right, is defended by New York Knicks forward Og Anunoby during second half of an NBA basketball game, Friday, Jan. 2, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Heather Khalifa)

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